Sheet-feeding- mechanism



w. C. GLASS.

SHEET FEEDING MECHANISM.

I APPLICATION FILED NOV. 8. I912. 1,327,546. Patented Jan. 6,1920.

I2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

Wiinesses: I jnvenior: .M %!JMZ. 6'. Glass, 1601/01/02 gmumwwv by E :W,dW41' J fliigs.

W. C. GLASS.

SHEET FEEDING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 8. 1912.

Patented Jan. 6, 1920.

12 SHEE1$SH Invenior. William 6. Glass, by w -J"1* 1 m3 mm 8 w; c; GLASS. SHEET FEEDING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 8 I912. Patented Jan'lfi I2 SHEETS-SHEEI 3.

m I I| Wnesses: v I t 600 2 aflfim. Wham 6! Glass,

W. C. GLASS.

SHEET FEEDING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 8. 1912.

Patented Jan. 6, 1920.

12 SHEETS-SHEET 4- Jays.

Invenior: Wilham'. Glass, by g mdwu PM mtnesaes:

(ffi q 4 W C. GLASS.

SHEET FEEDING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED NOV.8

Patented Jan. 6, 1920.

12 SHEET$SHEET 5.

w? N3 my g Wnesses W. C. GLASS.

SHEETFEEDING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 8. 1912.

Patented Jan. 6, 1920.

12 SHEETSSHEEI 7- Witness-e5: Inveni'or:

' William 6'. Glass,

bgw'a ujm w p0 m1 flags- W. C. GLASS.

SHEET FEEDING MECHANISM. APPLICATI ON FILED NOV. 8,1912.

1,327,546. Patented Jan. 6,1920.

I2 SHEETS-SHEEY 8.

WIC. GLASS.

' SHEET FEEDING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 8| i9l2.

Patented Jan. 6, 1920.

12 SHEETS-SHEET 9- mum Pom Sm Nw w.

MWM m W. C. GLASS.

SHEET FEEDING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 8. 1912.

Patented J an. 6

0 a m m mwm wwm \mm d m M 1 m a Wm 6 1%; m d 6 W w Cw b Z amafigmomm/ Q Wiinesses: a! $6M w. 0.. GLASS. SHEET FEEDING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED NOV- 8. I912.

Patented Jan. 6, 1920.

12 SHEETS-SHEET l1.

Witnesses:

Inventor.- J 6f Glass, byuw -1.E-M,M H T flii ys.

W. C. GLASS.

SHEET FEEDING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 8. 1912.

Patnted Jan. 6, 1920.

I2 SHEETS-SHEEI I2- Min asses: Inve mior:

William 0. Glass. by 6 u- M NITED TAES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM G. GLASS, OF JAMAICA PLAIN, MASSACHUSETTS.

SHEET-FEEDING MECHANISM.

mamas.

Application filed November 8, 1912.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM C. GLAss, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Jamaica Plain, county of Suffolk, and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Sheet-Feeding Mechanisms, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like characters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention relates to sheet feeding mechanisms, and more especially, though not exclusively, to mechanisms for feeding sheets of cardboard into a press which creases and cuts the sheets to make box blanks.

My invention will be best understood by reference to the following specification, when taken in connection with the accompanying illustration of one specific embodiment thereof, while its scope will be more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

- In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan of a printing press of common form, having a sheet-feeding mechanism embodying my invention, the parts being shown in the position which they 00-- cupy when the press is wide open;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation'of the press and the sheet-feeding mechanism, with the parts in the same position as in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a detail plan section, partly broken away, on line 33 of Fig. 2, illustrating a portion of the gearing by means of which the sheet-feeding mechanism derives its power from the crank-pin at one side of the Press;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the press, showing the positions which the parts of the press and sheet-feeding mechanism occupy when the press is closed;

Fig. 5 is a detail side elevation, at an enlarged scale, of a portion of the feed-table and the stop-finger mechanism;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail plan section on line 66 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a detail sectional view, partly in elevation, on line 77' of Fig. 5;

Fig. 8 is a detail side elevation, at an enlarged scale, of a portion of the sheet-feeding mechanism, illustrating particularly the first set of grippers and their actuating mechan m;

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J an. 6, 1920.

Serial No. 730,165.

Fig. 9 is an elevation viewed from the opposite side of the machine from that seen in Fig. 8, illustrating the first set of grippers;

Fig. 10 is a rear elevation of one pair of the first set of grippers;

Fig. 11 is an elevation viewed from the right hand side of Fig. 10

Fig. 12 is a sideelevation of a portion of the sheet-feeding mechanism, illustrating particularly the first and second set of grippers in the relative positions which they occupy when the first is about to deliver a sheet to the second;

Fig. 13 is a detail plan partly in section, illustrating the adjusting means for the changing of the stroke of the'second set of grippers;

Fig. 14 is a detail plan at an enlarged scale of one'pair of grippers of the second set;

Fig. 15 is a sectional view on line 1515 of Fig. 14, showing the gripper opening and closing cam in connection with the gripper mechanism;

Fig. 16 is a detail sectional'view on line 1616 of Fig. 14;

Fig. 17 is a detail sectional view on line 1717 of Fig. 15.

Fig. 18 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale on line 1818 of Fig. 1, looking toward the left;

Fig. 19 is a detail sectional view on an en-- larged scale on line 19-19 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 20 is a sectional view partly broken away on line 20-20 of Fig. 1;

Figs. 21 and 22 are diagrammatic views illustrating the Whitworth quick return motion used in connection with the second set of grippers, illustrating the cam in the position which it occupies when the grippers take their maximum stroke;

Figs. 23 and 24 are similar diagrammatic views, illustrating the Whitworth quick return motion, the cam being illustrated in the position which it occupies when the grippers take their minimum stroke;

Fig. 25 is adiagrammatic view illustrating the Whitworth quick return motion, in connection with the second and third sets of grippers, the grippers being shown inthe relative positions which they occupy at the ear-se t wh n t S t is tr e ed m.

the second to the third set. This view illustrates particularly the fact that the var ation in the stroke of the second set of grippers takes place beyond'the transfer point;

Fig. 26 is a detail plan on an enlarged scale, partly broken away, of the side register mechanism r Fig. 27 is a side elevation of the side register mechanism illustrated in Fig. 26;

Fig. 28 is a detail sectional view on line 28- 28- of Fig126; i

Fig. 29 is a detail section on-line 29 29 of Fig. 27;

Fig. 30 isia detail sectionon line 3030 of- Fig. 26;

Fig. 31 is a detail plan section on line 3131,of.Fig. 27;

Fig. 32 is a detail side elevationof a por tion of the sheet-feeding mechanism illustrating particularly the mechanism of the third set of grippers;

Fig. 33 is a sectional view on line 3333 of Fig. 32;

Fig. 3% is a detail plan of one pair of grippers of the third set;

Fig. 35 is a side elevation of. the grippers shown in Fig. 34-;

Fig. 36 is a detailed sectional view at an enlarged'scale on line 36-36 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 37 is a detail sectional view at an enlarged scaleon line 37-37 of Fig. 1;

' Fig. 38 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the first set of grippers about to take the sheet from the feed-table, and showing the second'set'of grippers holding a previously fed sheet between the platen and the bed;

Fig. 39 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the first set of grippers carrying the first sheet towardthe transfer point, where the same is to be transferred to the second set of grippers, this view also illustrating the second set of grippers in the act of transferring to the third set of grippers the sheet which has just been withdrawn from the press by the second set of grippers;

' Fig. 4:0 is a diagrammatic vievv, illustrating the first set of grippers, transferring the first sheet to the second set of grippers, and illustratingalso the thirdset of grippers just dropping the previously creased and cut sheet upon the pile in the sheetreceiving rack, or elevator; and

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of a portion of the first and second sets of grippers, illustrating how the shoulders of the first set pass beyond the shoulders of thesecond set to bring the front edge of the sheet against the shoulders of'the second set. In this "view, the spring-pressed grippers are omitted for the sake of; clearness.

'Referringito the drawings, and tozthe embodiment 0f my. invention Which I have there disclosed for illustrative purposes, I have there shown apress ofvcommon form,

to Which the sheet-feeding mechanism of my invention is applied, I will first briefiy describe the press.

(See Figs. 1, 2, 3 and t).

Press.

are two pinions 5 and 6, meshing With gears V 7 and 8, respectively, constituting crankdisks provided with cranlepins 9 and 10. These crank-pins are connected by draw bars 11 and 12 to eccentric bushings 13 and 14c, swiveled on a platen shaft 15, mounted in a platen bridge 16, forming a part of a rocking platen 17, said bushings being con nected to each other by a'bar 18, by means of which the bushings may be'turned in unison upon the platen shaft which passes eccentrically through the bushings. The bar 18 is provided with means of adjustment (not-shown) of common form, by whichithe bushings may'beset-to vary the strength of the impression at will, or to throw off the impression entirely.

Feed-table and stop-fingermechanism. (See Figs. 1, 2, 4,5, 6 and 7).

The press may be provided with a feedtable :19, suitably supported thereon above the bed of the press, and serving as asupport for a supply of the sheet cardboard,

and provided With a plurality of feed-table fingers may be elevated appropriate times 1n the operationof the machine by suitable mechanism, herein driven by the press gear 7. Herein there is secured to the rock-shaft 23 an arm 25, having secured thereto a stud 26, located in a slot 27 provided in one end of a link 28, and urged toward the left (Figs. 5 and 6) in said slot by a spring 29, secured at one end to said arm, and at its other end to a pin 30, fixed to the link. This spring provides for a yielding downward pressure of the fingers 21 upon the feedtable extensions, while the arrangement is such that the fingers may be positively lift.

ed to allow the sheet to pass beneat'r abutments 22- of the :fingers.

The link .28 is herein pivoted at 3l' to a cam lever 32, .fulcrumed at 33 and having journaled thereon a cam roll 34-, actuated byacam 35*.formedin the face of a gear 36 journaled on stud 37. Herein the is secured. J ournaled in suitable 36is driven by a pinion 38, secured to one end of a shaft 39, journaled in a bearing ion 41 may be adjusted with relation to the press gear 7, so as to properly mesh there with, regardless of inaccuracies and slight differences in presses.

Driving gearing for gripper mechanisms. (See Flgs. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 33.)

As a convenient means of driving the gripper mechanisms hereinafter described, and timing the same with relation to the press, I preferably employ the driving mechanism which I will now describe. Secured to the crank-pin 9 is a beveled gear 45, meshing with a beveled piniOn 46 secured to one end of a shaft 47, while a beveled pinion 48 secured to the other end of the shaft meshes with a beveled gear 49, having secured thereto a spur gear 50, preferably by means of a shear pin 51, designed to shear ofi, and prevent injury to the mechanism, in the event of any accident which would tend to stop the rotative movement'of the gear 50.

Inclosing the beveled gear 45 and pinion 46, is a gear casing 52, which also 'forms a bearing 53 for one end of the shaft 47. This casing may be swiveled on a hub 54, formed on the gear 45, and may be held against rotation by suitable means, herein a jaw 55, embracing the link 11, the casing being held in place by suitable means, herein a stud 56. Inclosing the beveled gear 49 and pinion 48, is a casing 57, which also forms a bearing 58 for the other end of the shaft 47, as well as a support for a fixed stud or shaft 59 for the gears 49 and 50. Inclosing the gear 50 is a casing 60, swiveled on the stud 59, and held in place thereon by suitable means, herein a washer 61 secured to said stud.

The casing 60 may also constitute a support for a gear .62, journaled On a stud 63 and meshing in turn with a gear 64, journaled on a stud 65. The casing 60 may also constitute a housing for the gears 62121116]. 64. The gear 64 meshes with a gear 66, journaled on a stud 67 secured to a side frame member 68. This side frame member and a similar side frame member 69, both secured to the sides of the platen 17, are rigidly connected to each other by suitable means, herein tie-rods 7 O and 71, and form a suitable support at the front of the press for the several gripper mechanisms which will presently be described.

Referring now to the gears 64 and 66, these gears are held in mesh with each other by a link 72, pivoted at its lower end to the stud 65 and at its upper end to the stud 67. Incidentally, this link facilitates the assembling of the parts, inasmuch as it admits of the location of the gear 64 being slightly varied to compensate for variations in the placing of the other parts. Comparing the position of the parts shown in Fig. 2 with the position shown in Fig. 4, it must be evident that as the press opens and closes, the casing 60 will oscillate about the axis of the stud 59, and gear 50, and consequently the gear 62 will swing back and forth in a partial revolution about the gear 50. Now, as suming that the press gear 7 is driven in the direction indicated by the arrow thereon, (Figs. 2 and 4), the gear 50 will be driven in the direction of the arrow thereon (Figs. 2 and 4). It will now be evident that when the gear 62 is swung upwardly from the position shown in Fig. 2 to the position shown in Fig. 4, it is being revolved in the same direction as the direction'of rotation of the gear 50. On the other hand, when the press is open, the gear 62 will be swung from the position shown in Fig. 4 to the position shown in Fig. 2, and the direction in which it is thus revolved is contrary to the direction of rotation of the gear 50. As a consequence, the speed of rotation of the gear 62 will be diminished during the closing movement of the press and accelerated during the opening movement. Since the gear 66 is driven through the gear 64 by the gear 62, it must be evident that this rotative movement of the gear 66 will be uneven,- that is to say, during a portion of its rota tion, its movement will be slow, and during the remainder of a given rotation, its movement will be relatively rapid.

In the cycle of the press, opening movement takes place in approximately one-half the rotation of the gear 7, and the closing movement also takes place in the remaining half of the rotative movement, while it is found that the gear 66 rotates approximately two-thirds of a rotation during the opening movement of the press, and onethird of the rotation on the closingmovement, due to the described swinging movement of the pinion 62 with relation to the gear 50. This irregular rotative movement may be translated into a uniform reciprocatory movement, or a reciprocatory movement having any desired dwells, retardations or accelerations, by the use of a variation of the well-known VVhitworth quick return motion, which will be hereinafter described in connection with the second gripper mechanism.

First gripper mechanism. (See Figs..8, 9,

10 and 11).

Mounted in suitable bearings in the side frame members 68 and 69, is a rock-shaft 73 carrying sheet grlppers, which it wlll be convenient to refer to as the first set of grippers, since they act upon the sheet first by taking the same from the feed-table and delivering it to a second set of grippers. Loosely mounted on the rock-shaft 7 3, but held against swinging movement thereon, is a lever, or a plurality of levers, 74L- (herein two levers), which carry the grippers. Since these two levers and the parts carried thereby are exactly similar, a detailed description of one will suffice for both. Each lever 74 is preferably forked, and provided with two arms 757 5, having formed thereon, or secured thereto, fixed grippers 7 676, having sheet-gripping surfaces 7777, and shoulders 7 87 8, which may serve as abutments for the front edge of the sheet. Supported upon the arms 75 are two movable grippers 7 97 9, herein pivoted at 80 to a forked yoke 81, the latter being secured to a rod 82 mounted to slide in a sleeve 83. This sleeve is provided with a longitudinal slot 84-, in which a pin 85, secured to the rod 82, alays. Encircling the rod 82 is a spring 86, inter posed between the yoke 81 and the sleeve 83, and tending to move them apart, or in other words, tending to urge the grippers 79 toward the grippers 6. The sleeve 88 is formed to receive one arm of a lever 87, to which it is pivoted at 88. This lever is interposed between a pair of arms 89 on the lever 7d, and is secured to a rock-shaft 90 by a key 91, located in a key-way, or spline, 92. The rock-shaft 90 is mounted in suitable hearings in the arms 89 of the lever 74, and is also journaled in bearings provided in one or more arms 93 secured to the rock-shaft 7 3. Therefore, the levers 74 may be adjusted longitudinally of the rock-shafts 90 and 73, and yet receive their rocking motion from the shaft 73 without being actually secured thereto. The lever 74: and the lever 87 may be held against longitudinal sliding movement by providing the lever 87 with a split ear 87 and a clamping screw 87*, by means of which the lever 87 may be clamped to the rock-shaft 90; The yoke 81, carrying the grippers 7 9, may be held against lateral displacement by a link 941, pivoted at one end to the yoke 81, and at its other end to the lever 75. The movable gripper 79 is provided with a sheetengaging surface 95, which coiiperates with the sheet-engaging surface .77 of the fixed gripper 76, and said sheet-engaging surfacespreferably diverge at their entrance, so as to guide the entering edge of th sheet therebetween.

As a means for applying spring pressure to the grippers 79 at appropriate times in the operation of the machine, the rock-shaft 90 has secured thereto an arm 96, to which is pivoted a rod 97 encircled by a spring 98, bearing at one end against a fixed collar 99 on the rod, and at its other end against a pivoted block 100, through which said rod is arranged to slide. A nut 101 and checknut 102, threaded onto the rod 97 serve to limit the motion of the latter, under the ire fluence of the spring 98. The arm 96 is fixed upon the rock-shaft 90 in such a position that in one position of the arm (see full line position, Fig. 9), the arm is nearly in line with the rod 97, and consequently the spring 98 exerts its minimum force upon the springs 86 to cause th latter to urge the grippers 79 toward the grippers 76, the consequence being that at that time, the springs 86 furnish a very light pressure upon the sheet. When, however, the lever 75 is swung from the full line position 9) to the dotted line position, the arm 96 is disposed at a substantial angle (see dotted line position, Fig. 9) to the rod 97, the result being that the spring 98 will serve to apply additional pressure to th grippers'by exerting upon the strings 86 a force greater than the pressure ofthe latter, this occurring during the carrying movement of the grippers.

Since the pivot connecting the arm 96 to the rod 97 is'placed eccentrically with relation to the axis of the rock-shaft 73, about which it swings, said pivot in swinging downward will approach the abutment 100, and consequently cause the spring 98 to be placed under greater tension during thecarrying movement of the grippers. Sometimes in operating on very thin cardboart, it is found desirable to utilize only the pressure of the springs 86, during the transferring of the sheet. Under such circumstances, the nut 101 and check-nut 102 may be adjusted to limit the motion'of the rod 97, under the influe-nce of the spring 98, so that the spring 98 becomes practically inefiective. yBy utilizing the spring 86, pressure may be independently applied to the two pairs'of grippers, and the two pairs may be caused to grip the sheet with substantially equal pressure.

A rocking motion may be imparted to the rock-shaft 73'and the described parts carried thereby by any suitable means, but herein, there is secured to the rock-shaft an arm 108, connected by a link 10 to a cam lever105, fulcrumed on a stud 106, fixed to the side frame member 68, and said cam lever having journaled thereon a cam roll 107, actuated by a suitable cam 108, the latter being herein formed in one face of tl e gear 66. 1 p

By the described mechanism, when the press closes, the grippers 76 and 79 are caused to swing forward into position to receive the sheet from the feed-table-in a manner which will be more fully described here inafter, and at the proper moment the grippers are positively opened by the engagement of the cam-roll 109 journaled on an arm 109 secured to the rock-shaft 90, with a cam 110 formed on or secured to the cam lever 32 hereinbefore described (see Figs. 4 and 5). This cam is so shaped and placed that the grippers will open to receive the sheet from beneath the fingers 21, and when the press starts to open, the cam lever 32 will lift the cam 110, thus releasing the roll 109, and allowing the'grippers instantly to close under the combined pressure of the springs 86 and 98, a

The grippers now having received the sheet will be swung into the proper position to deliver the same to the second set of grippers, which will presently be described, and at the moment of delivery, the grippers will be partially relieved of the pressure of the spring 98, so that the second set of grippers may draw the sheet from the first set against merely a slight resistance oifered by the spring 98 acting through the springs 86 pressing the grippers upon the sheet. By an inspection of Fig. 10, it will be seen that the two pairs of grippers on each lever 7 5 are so placed as to receive between them the grippers of the second set of grippers, which will now he described.

Second gripper mechanism. (See Figs. 12 to 24, inclusive.)

Mounted in guideways 111 in the side frame member 68 and in guideways 112 in the side frame member 69, are two slides 113 and 114, rigidly connected to each other by rods 115 and 116. Preferably, the slide 113 is provided with shoulders 117 arranged in sliding contact with a finished face 118 of the side frame member 68, to hold the slide against lateral movement in one direction, while the slide is provided with a groove 119, which receives a key 120 secured to the frame member 68, to hold the slide against lateral movement in an opposite direction. At the other side of the machine, the slide 114 is preferably without lateral guides, so that the side frame is free to come and go somewhat, without affecting the position of the slides 113 and 114.

Since these slides are very short as 00m pared with the width of the machine. it is desirable to provide some means for insuring their movement in unison, so that the sheet will be held square during its forward motion. To this end, there is journaled in the slides a shaft 121, having secured thereto a pair of pinions 122 and 123. meshing with racks 124 and 125, secured to the side frame members 68 and 69 respectively.

Mounted in the slides 113 and 114, is a rock-shaft 126, which is capable of longitudinal sliding movement for a purpose which will 'be explained in connection with the side register mechanism hereinafter described. Mounted upon the rock-shaft 126, and upon the fixed rod 116, is a plurality of gripper supports 127 (herein two). Each of these gripper supports is capable of slidin on the fixed rod 116, but is compelled to move longitudinally with the sliding rockshaft 126, by being forked to provide a pair of arms 128, between which is located an arm 129 secured to the rock-shaft 126. The gripper supports 127 are capable of adjustment longitudinally of the rock-shaft 126, the latter for that purpose being provided with a spline, and the arm 129 being provided with a key 130, and a split ear 131, having a clamping screw 132.

Each of the gripper supports, with the mechanism mounted thereon, is exactly similar to the other, and a detailed description of one will suffice for both. Mounted on each gripper support 127 is a gripper 133, which is fixed in the operation of the machine, but capable of lengthwise adjustment it being provided for this purpose with a dove-tailed groove 134, which receives a correspondingly clove-tailed guide 135 on the gripper support 127. As a means for adjusting the gripper longitudinally, it may be provided with a transverse slot 136, having therein the head of an eccentric stud 137, provided with a shank 138 swiveled in the gripper support 127. The eccentric stud may be provided with a slot 139. to receive a screw-driver by means of which it may be conveniently rotated to advance or retract the gripper. By advancing one or the other of the grippers 133, the sheets may be squared very readily. The gripper may be secured in the desired position of adjust ment by a clamping screw 140 passing through a longitudinal slot 141 provided in the gripper, said screw beingthreaded into the gripper support 127.

The gripper 133 is provided at its forward end with laterally extending sheet-gripping surfaces 142. preferably having a slightdownward incline toward their extremities to facilitate the extrance of the edge of the sheet.

Cooperating with these fixed gripping surfaces are two movable grippers 143, having sheet-engaging surfaces 144, preferably having a downward incline corresponding to the surfaces 142. These movable grippers are preferably mounted on a pivot 145 on the gripper support 127, and said grippers are connected to each other by a pin 146. A bell-crank lever 147 secured to a rockshaft 148 mounted in hearings in the gripper support 127, is provided with a forked arm 149, which receives the pin 146. The bell-crank lever is provided with a pair of arms 150, pivoted at 151 to a collar 152 interposed between said arms. The collar 1 52 is secured to a rod 153, arranged to slide through a sleeve 154' pivoted at 155 to the arm 129, the latter for that purpose being forked to straddle the sleeve 154. A

other end against a nut 157, threaded on the rod and serving as a means of adjustment for the spring. A locknut 158 may be provided to secure the nut 157 in the desired position of adjustment.

.As a means for rocking the shaft 126 to actuate the movable grippers 143, said rocksha ft has secured thereto an arm 159, having journaled thereon a cam-roll 160, located in the cam path of a stationary cam 161 secured to the side frame member 69. By giving the cam path the proper shape, it may be caused to utilize the forward and backward movement of the slides 113 and 114, and the described mechanism carried thereby, to open and close the grippers. To this end, the cam is provided with two straight portions 162 and 163, and two depressed portions 164 and 165, the latter being shallower than the former. l/Vhen the slides 113 and 114 and the mechanism car ried thereby are in their retracted position shown in Figs. 16 and 20, the grippers are open. When, however, the slides and mechanism carried thereby start to advance, the cam roll 164 rises into the straight elevated portion 162 of the cam path, thus acting through the arm 159, r0ckshaft 126, arm 129, and sleeve 154, to place the spring 156 under tension, and apply the spring pressure to close the grippers 143 upon the sheet, thus gripping the latter firmly against the grippers 143. This occurs at an appropriate time in the operation 'of the machine, as will be described hereinafter. The depth of the depression 165 is only sufficient to cause the spring pressure of thegrippers upon the sheet to diminish at that point, without being entirely removed, and hence there is no danger of the grippers dropping the sheet during their forward movement.

In some cases, when box blanks are being cut, it is desirable to have the cut extend clear to the front edge of the sheet, and since the sheet is to be held in the press by the second set of grippers during the cutting and creasing operation, it is necessary to provide the gripper 133 with a notch 166, to permit the sheet to be cut clear up to its front edge without interference with the gripper. I

I will now describe the preferred form of mechanism by which the slides 113 and 114, and the second set of grippers carried thereby, are given their forward and backward movements. The slide 113 is provided with a laterally projecting stud 167, connected by a link 168 to one arm of a bellcrank lever 169, 'fulcrumed at 170 upon a lever 171, the latter being fulcrumed on the stud 106, hereinbefore described. The

in which is located a crank-pin, or roller,

175, carried by the gear 66-hereinbefore described. This mechanism constitutes what is familiarly known as the l/Vhitworth quick return motion, with this difference, that the present device is a reversal of the VVhitworth quick return motion. In other words, instead of converting a uniform rotary motion into a reciprocatory motion having a slow motion in one direction and a quick return, it converts, or more correctly speaking, is capable of converting the non-uniform rotation of the gear 66 into a uniform, reciprocatory motion. This would be the case if the slot 174 in the quick return lever 171 were made straight, but as itis desirable to give the second set of grip pers a motion that will be more rapid at some points than at others, and which will have suitable dwells, the slot 174 is given an irregular outline. This irregular shape of the slot and the results accomplished thereby, will be referred to. more particularly hereinafter.

The cam path of the cam 173 is formed in part on an arc of a circle struck from the axis on which the lever 171 rocks, while the remainder of the cam path takes a drop toward the fulcrum of the lever. It will be convenient to refer to the first part of the cam path as the concentric part, and the remaining part as the dip or drop. The extent of the concentric portion of the cam path is such that when the cam is placed in the position shown in Figs. 12, 21 and 22, the cam-roll 172 will remain in the concentric part of the cam path during the entire stroke of thelever 171, and consequently the motion which is imparted to the second set of grippers will be uninfluenced by the cam 173. This is the extreme travel given to the second set of grippers, and consequently at this time, these grippers will move to their maximum distance beyond the front edge of the platen. This length of stroke is used for the smallest size of sheet, since it is desirable that the sheet shall be placed as near as possible to the center of the platen, so that the platen pressure may be equalized.

On the other hand, if it be desired to shorten the stroke of the second set of grip pers, this may be accomplished by suitable adjustment of the cam 173, so that the stroke of the cam-roll 172 will begin at some point toward the left (Figs. 23 and 24) of the right-hand end of the cam path, and end at some point in the dip or drop in the cam path. As a result, the stroke of the second set of grippers will be shortened, the amount depending upon the position at which the cam 17 3 is set.

While any other suitable adjusting means may be employed, and While the adjusting means may be altogether dispensed with if desired, 1 preferably employ manually operable adjusting means, which will now be described. Referring particularly to Figs. 12, 13 and 33, the cam 173, as before stated, is pivotally mounted upon the stud 106. Formed on, or secured to the cam 17 3, is a segmental gear 176, with which meshes a pinion 177, secured to a shaft 17 8, the latter being journaled in a bracket 179 secured to the side frame member 68. The shaft 17 8 extends through a segmental slot 180, provided in the cam 173, and preferably through an index 181 cooperating with a series of suitable graduations 182 on the cam 17 3. These graduations and index may serve to assist the operator in properly adjusting the cam for the desired length of stroke of the second set of grippers.

The shaft 178 may, if desired, be provided with a clamping nut 183, which serves not only to firmly clamp the cam in the desired position of adjustment, but also serves as a means for tying the cam firmly to the bracket 179, the latter in turn being firmly fixed to the side frame 68, the consequence being that these parts provide, as it were, a sort of rigid box-like structure for the mechanism supported thereby (see Fig. 33). Secured to the shaft 17 8, is a worm gear 184;, meshing with a worm 185, the latter being formed on, or suitably secured to, a worm shaft 186, journaled in suitable bearings provided in the bracket 179. The worm shaft 186 may be provided at one end with a suitable collar, or shoulder 187, to take the end thrust of the shaft in one direction, and may be provided at its other end with a suitable collar, or shoulder 188, to take the end thrust in the opposite direction. If desired, the collar 187 may be in the form of a polygonal head, to receive a wrench, and the collar 188 may be knurled to facilitate manual rotation of the worm shaft.

By loosening the clamping nut 183, and rotating the worm shaft 186 in the proper direction, the cam 173 may be adjusted to the desired position, and secured in the selected position of adjustment, by tightening up the clamping nut 183.

Referring now to Figs. 21 and 22, wherein the cam 173 is shown in such a position of adjustment that the shaft 178 is located at the extreme right-hand end of the slot 180, this adjustment of the cam is such that with each rotation of the gear 66 carrying the crank-pin, or roll, 175, the second set of grippers will be caused totravel its full stroke, since the cam-roll 17 2 does not leave the concentric portion of the cam path in the cam 17 3. Referring now to Figs. 23 and 24, wherein the cam 173 is shown in such a position of adjustment that the shaft 17 8 occupies a position at the extreme left-hand end of the slot 180: in this position of adjustment of the cam, the cam-roll 172 begins its stroke at the point shown in Fig. 23, and ends its stroke at the point shown in Fig. 2 1. Now it must be evident that, although the fulcrum of the bell-crank lever 169 always travels to and fro a fixed distance, the distance through which the second set of grippers will travel will be dependent upon the control which the cam 173 exercises upon the cam-roll 17 2. That is to say, if when the cam-roll 17 2 in traveling toward the left- (Fig. 23) reaches the end of the concentric portion of the cam track, it starts to descend into the drop, or dip, the bellcrank lever 169 will commence to rock about its fulcrum in a clockwise direction with respect to the lever 171, by which it is carried, and consequently, although the fulcrum of the bell-crank lever is still advancing toward the position shown in Fig. 24, there will be a slowing down in the movement of the link 168, and hence a lessening of the stroke of the second set of grippers. To state a concrete example,--with the cam 173 placed in the position shown in Figs. 21 and 22, the second set of grippers may have a stroke of twelve inches, and will travel its maximum distance into the press, but with the cam placed in the position shown in Figs. 23 and 24, the stroke of the grippers may be reduced to only nine inches, and the grippers will travel into the press their minimum distance. By properly adjusting the cam, any desired variation in stroke between these may be obtained.

Referring now to the slot 17 4 in the lever 171, it has already been stated that this slot may be given such a shape as to cause the grippers to be given a motion which have suitable dwells, or pauses, and may be slow or fast according to the requirements of the grippers. Now, it must be evident that since the second set of grippers is to hold the sheet stationary in the press during the impression, the grippers must pause in their motion, and to that end, the slot 17 4% is formed with a portion 189, which in the position of the lever 171 shown in 22 is concentric or coincident with the path of the crank-pin, or roll 175. The extent of this concentric portion 189 of the slot in the lever is, of course, determined by the length of the dwell required.

i Vhe-n the sheet has been cut and creased. and the press opens, it is desirable that the second set of grippers shall carry the sheet as rapidly as possible out of the press, transfer the sheetto the third set of grippers,

and the-n recede to its initial position, where it is to receive a new sheet from the first set of grippers. To this-end, the slot 174 is provided with an abrupt turn 190, which will produce the desired movement (see Fig. 25), and when the second set of grippers has reached the end of its stroke, the new sheet is transferred thereto from the first set of grippers. The sheet now, having been transferred from thefirst set of grippers to the second set, is carried forward into the press.

It will be readily apparent .thatwhen the press is closing and the slides 113 and 1145, together with the second set of grippers and all the other mechanism carried by said. slides, are advancing downwardly to carry the sheet into the press, these parts will acquire considerable momentum, and there fore, in order to counterbalance the Weight of these parts and take up any back-lash which might result in an inaccurate positioning of the sheet. I provide suitable means, herein a torsional spring 191, encir cling the shaft 121, said spring having-one end fixed to a collar 192 secured to said shaft, and its other end fixed to an abut ment 193, through which the shaft passes, this abutment being fixed to the rods 115 and 116. WVhen the gripper mechanism advances downwardly to carry the sheet into the press, the spring 191 will be wound and placed under such tension that it will take up all of the back-lash of the parts, and moreover, when the grippers start to .raise, the power stored up in the springwill assist the driving mechanism to lift the gripper mechanism.

that the power thus stored up is practically sufiicient in itself to return the parts to their initial position.

Side register mach/misfit. (See Figs. 26 to 31, inclusive).

If desired theremay be provided a side register mechanism, which when the .econd set of grippers has received the sheet, will cause thesheet and grippers to be shifted bodily, so as to accurately register sidewise. To that end, the rock shaft 126, which carries the supports of the second set of grippers, may be mounted to move longL tudinally, and there may be provided suit able means actuated by contact with the edge of the sheet to determine the extent of such movement. Herein, longitudinal motion is imparted to the shaft 126 by ELCdlll-I'Oll 191, journaled thereon and engaging a fixed cam 195, which is herein for convenience of manufacture formed on the cam 161, secured to the side frame member 69. This cam-roll is urged toward its cam by a spring 196 (see Fig. 1), bearing at one end against In fact, it is found the fixed abutment 193,'and at its ot ier end against a collar 197, secured to said shaft. It will now beevident that if the spring 196 were to hold the cam-roll 194s continuously in contact with the cam 195, as the second set of grippers is moved forward and back it would be shifted laterally a distance equal to the throw ofthe cam.

I will now describe the means by which the lateral motion of the sheet and the second set of grippers is stopped, when the side edge of the sheet has reached a predetermined point. For-med on the sliding rockshaft 126, is a rack 198, which (see Fig. 27), is given a circular formation because of the rocking motion of said shaft. This rack meshes with a pinion 199, secured to a sleeve'200, thelatter having fixed thereto a ratchet 201. The sleeve 200 is journaled-o-n a stud 202, fixed to a apport 203. This support is mounted upon the fixed-rods 115 and 116, in such a manner as to be capable of longitudinal adjustment thereon, and is held fixed inthe desir d position of adjustment by suitable means, here in a clamping stud 20d and nut 205, said stud having a. lateral recess 206, which receives the rod 116.

Coeperating with the ratchet 201 is a pawl 207, pivoted ona stud 208 and urged toward said ratchet by a spring 209. Carried by the pawl 207 is a dog 210, having a tooth 211 codperating with a rack-bar 212 provided with one or more teeth 213 each of which is provided at its forward side with an abrupt shoulder 214, and at its rearward side with an inclined surface2l5yfora purpose which will presently appear. The rackbar 212 is mounted to slide in a suitable guide 216, and is-limited in its movement by a fixed pin 217, located in a slot 218 provided in said rack-bar. secured at one end to a fixedpin. 220, and at its other end to a pin 221 carried by the raclnbar 212, tends to hold the rack-bar in the position shown in Fig. 26. The rackbar 212 is connected to atrigger 222 pivoted at 223 upon a supporting plate The trigger 222 is connected to the rackbar 212 preferably by being provided with a tooth 225 located in the slot 226 provided in said rack-bar. The trigger 222 is provided with a suitable sheet edge engaging surface 227 adapted to be engaged by "one side edge of the sheet, when the latter is shifted laterally, while grasped by the sec ond set of grippers. When this engage ment occurs, the rack-bar 212 will be shifted longitudinally in the direction of the ar the same to engage the ratchet 201 and lockthe same agalnst further rotation under the A spring 219' 

